Toulouse. Joachim Panou, the darling holds his bet!
The young receiver-attacker came to Toulouse to save playing time and knock on the door of the Blues. It’s off to a good start.
Joachim Panou left his “home” last summer. At 23, he was looking for playing time. In Montpellier, which aims for the title every year, places are expensive and the example of the many young people who have exploded in Toulouse then persuaded him to join the Spacer’s. “Sapi (Stéphane Sapinart, the coach, Editor’s note) called me and the project convinced me,” rewinds the receiver-attacker. Bingo! Little used during the first two games (2 points average), “Jo” is the second best scorer of his team over the last four meetings (14 pts avg.) And was even elected best player of the match in Cannes (3- 0, 16 pts), ten days ago. “Everything is going well, I’m enjoying it,” smiles the one who spent part of the summer with the France A ‘team. Injured with ischio just before the final list for the Euro, he “would like” to see a little higher.
They scream his name every game!
“I hope he dreams of the Blues because he is at an age where we have to be ambitious,” said his coach, convinced by “his strong potential, especially offensively”. “He has physical qualities above the rest but has not really had his chance so far. What interested us is to offer him the opportunity to show what he is capable of doing”, decrypts this last. A “bet” almost won even if Joachim has fixed several areas of work: “reception, more blocks and more consistency”.
Known by his teammates, he is also the darling of the loudest fringe of Toulouse supporters. At each match at the Palais des Sports, there are about ten of them shouting his name. “It’s such a good kiff”, laughs Joachim Panou who admits not really knowing the genesis of this sudden love but who quickly entered the game by posing in particular within the kop for several photos. Tonight against Chaumont, “a candidate for the title”, there is no doubt that they will still be behind him to “boost him” and maintain his good momentum. A trajectory which also marries that of his team, which remains on three victories in a row. No doubt not a coincidence …